Cuomo headed to Israel on Tuesday (Updated)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders will head to Israel on Tuesday to show support for the country.

It will be Cuomo's first international trip since he took office in 2011, and one of the few trips he's made outside New York during his term in office, a source confirmed. The Wall Street Journal first reported the trip this evening.

Cuomo, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, has been in talks for months about a possible trip to Israel. The lawmakers and Cuomo will travel via a commercial flight to Israel, which is embroiled in an ongoing conflict with Palestinians.

Updated: Cuomo put out a news release about the trip, which will also include Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman, his brother-in-law designer Kenneth Cole and other family members.

"Friends stand together in times of crisis, and I am proud to lead this bipartisan delegation to Israel to reaffirm our friendship and support," Cuomo said in a news release. "New York has always had a special relationship with Israel. As Hamas and other terrorist organizations continue to threaten Israel, now is the time to deliver that message of solidarity in person."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote a letter to Cuomo last month thanking him for his support of Israel by New York, which has the largest population of Jews outside Israel.

“New York, like Israel, has known the scourge of terrorism,” Netanyahu wrote in the letter, dated July 21. “You clearly understand the threat terrorism poses and the efforts required to fight it.”

Netanyahu continued: “It would be my pleasure to welcome you here in Jerusalem should you choose to visit.”

Late last month, Cuomo said he had been in contact with Israeli officials, but the trip had not been finalized.

It was unclear how Cuomo was paying for the trip and whether he would meet with Netanyahu.

“The Jewish people are a large and magnificent part of our community in this state, and this state and this country play a special role as supporters of Israel,” Cuomo said July 28. “This is an incredibly difficult time for Israel. Standing in support of Israel I think is important.”